Anti-microbial and Anti-cancer Properties of Echinocystic Acid Extracted from Luffa cylindrica

Triterpenoids are the most ubiquitous non-steroidal secondary metabolites in terrestrial and marine flora and fauna occurring in the free form as well as in the forms of ether, ester and glycosides. The diverse structural types of triterpenoids with useful biological activities, identification, biosynthesis for feed industry increases interest in triterpenoids. The widely occurring plant Luffa cylindrica was investigated for active triterpenoid sapogenins. The triterpenoid sapogenins were isolated by solvent extraction followed by chromatography and were defined by newer spectroscopic methods. These triterpenoid sapogenins from Luffa cylindrica were isolated and characterized. The anti-microbial and anti-cancer properties of echinocystic acid will be discussed.